Golf Roundup: Long Beach's John Mallinger closes in on first tour victory

SAN MARTIN - John Mallinger remained in position for his first PGA Tour victory by shooting a 1-under 70 on Saturday in the Frys.com Open to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.

The 33-year-old Mallinger from Long Beach was at 15-under 198 at CordeValle after opening with a 66 and matching the course record with a 62 on Friday.

"I just didn't have it all. I didn't drive it as well as I did yesterday," Mallinger said. "I think I hit every fairway yesterday, and then today I just got off to a weird start. But I hung around there and made some birdies on the back nine that got me back into position.

"Still got lead, still got a good spot and look forward to tomorrow."

He has finished second twice in his seven-year career on the tour and lost in a playoff to Bo Van Pelt in Milwaukee in 2009.

"I'm going to still stay aggressive and try to make as many birdies as possible," Mallinger said. "It's going to be a birdie day. I mean, it's supposed to be nice tomorrow."

Sweden's Jonas Blixt was second after a 66. He birdied five of the last eight holes.

"The front nine is a little harder," said Blixt, coming off a third-place finish last week in Las Vegas. "The back nine you can make a couple birdies. Hopefully, I can finish like I did today.

"It'll be a shootout tomorrow," Howell said. "The greens are so soft and there will be a lot of birdies, but at least I have a chance."

LPGA TOUR

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Defending champion Na Yeon Choi maintained a two-shot lead in the LPGA Malaysia by shooting a 3-under 68 on Saturday in the rain-interrupted third round.

The South Korean finished at 13-under 200 after opening with rounds of 65 and 67 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

"Actually, honestly, I don't like leading, that feeling. I like chasing better," Choi said. "But like today, I think I played too much safely. So tomorrow, I'm not going to think about my score, even two-shot lead.

"I just go out there with a general score and play my game. I want to play lower than any day."

She birdied the first hole before play was delayed for more than four hours because of lightning and rain and finished with four birdies and a lone bogey on the 10th hole. For the third time in two years, the lights at course were turned on to help players finish.

She won the U.S. Women's Open in July for her first major title and sixth LPGA Tour victory.

South Korea's Inbee Park, the tour money leader, was second after a 65. Australia's Karrie Webb was four strokes back after a 68.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

CONOVER, N.C. - Fred Funk took a one-stroke lead over Larry Mize in the Greater Hickory Classic after his second consecutive 6-under 66.

The 56-year-old Funk has gone 42 holes without a bogey since the 13th hole Sunday in the final round of the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C. He birdied the final two holes on Rock Barn Golf and Spa's Jones Course.

Mize had a 67. Defending champion Mark Wiebe, Chip Beck and Duffy Waldorf were four strokes back at 8 under.

Beck and Waldorf shot 67, and Wiebe had a 69.

EUROPEAN TOUR

VILAMOURA, Portugal - Austria's Bernd Wiesberger had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch and finished with a 6-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Portugal Masters.

Wiesberger was at 13-under 200. England's Ross Fisher was second after a 69.